Mrs. van Daan

Character Analysis

Mrs. Van Daan’s actual historical name is Auguste van Pels.

Mrs. van Daan is one person that Anne can’t stand. She’s belligerent and selfish, always instigates fights, and rarely helpful. Her character does not seem to change over time. She is jealous of Anne’s relationship with her son, wanting Peter to confide in her rather than in Anne. However, Mrs. van Daan does have a few strong points. She occasionally can be reasonable and back down from fights, is generally neat and tidy, and is often easier for Anne to approach than her own mother.